I told the kids I made them brownies for dessert tonight. 

They were a little disappointed to discover the brown E’s I made for them.

April Fools!

Countless “winter” afternoons were spent sporting flip flops, eating picnic lunches outside, soaking in the warmth of the sun’s rays.   And I loved every minute of it, while also inwardly fearing a return of cold weather.  I so hate that time of year when you have to keep both warm and cold weather clothes in your drawers because you never know what the weather will do.  I love it when you can confidently box up last seasons clothes and fully embrace the new season. 

Which is why, I found it somewhat frustrating, and quite a bit comical that on the second Saturday of SPRING… the day of the annual community Easter Egg Hunt… the kids were bundled up in coats, with red noses and cold hands as they gathered their eggs.  But, the cold wind blowing didn’t dampen the fun too much. 

When we got to the van, she had to run back into the house for her Daisy Hop because “Mom, I promised Daisy Hop I’d bring her to the Easter Egg Hunt!”

This was his first hunt.  His glee was priceless.

Their was a special “magic egg” which was orange with a purple suction cup on it.  Whoever found it got an extra special prize.  I loved my 6 year olds strategy for egg hunting.  She only gathered orange eggs.  It was so cute to see her running around the egg covered field, never giving a second look to any other color egg.

None of the other kids cared what color their eggs were. 

The Easter Bunny also made an appearance.

It was a blustery, but fun morning!

Christmas is my favorite time of year.  I love the music, the food, the decorations, the smells, the lights… I love it all.  But without a doubt, my favorite part is that it is truly a month long celebration of our Lord’s birth.  And I love that as I am grocery shopping or at the mall, or in the inner harbor of Baltimore, I can hear music which praises His name. 

But, as wonderful as Christmas is, and as very near to my heart it is, it means nothing, NOTHING without Easter.  For Easter is when we remember Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for our sins, and His conquering of death and sin when he rose from the dead on Easter morning.  

Easter is where it’s at, folks. 

And yet, I don’t know why.  It seems Easter gets much less celebration.  Last year a friend sent me this link with some great ideas of activities to do with your kids Easter week.  I was super excited and bookmarked the site.  Next thing I know it was Easter Sunday and we had done none of the activities. 

You all know that I love a good celebration and will celebrate any day that comes along.  Pi day, anyone?  And therefore, since we are a holiday/celebration loving family, I felt compelled this year to attempt to go all out for Easter.  Being as it is, in my opinion, the holiday most worthy of celebrating.

So,  I mapped out our Easter celebration on my calendar.  We started our resurrection eggs on March 2o, with the goal to finish on Palm Sunday.  I gotta tell you we have missed a few days here and there and had to double up.  But, the kids have really, really enjoyed them and I think the physical symbols of the Easter story in the eggs helps them remember the details of the story.   While my 8 year old already knows what is in each egg and what they represent, I realized my 4 year old doesn’t and so this has been a great review for all of us.  Even our youngest enjoys his turn opening up the egg and playing with what is inside. 

Today, I sat down with the link I mentioned before, my Easter pinterest board and a sheet of paper to map out the week of Holy week and schedule in the things I want to do with the kids next week during our spring break in anticipation of Easter. 

I am so excited!   But, I know that my intentions don’t often pan out, however, here is my dream list of what I’d like to do with the kids in the coming week.  Here they are, in case any of you are looking for some Easter activities to do with your kids in the next week.

This weekend we are going to make a Easter garden like this.  We are also going to go to our neighborhood Easter egg hunt.  I am also hoping to make this adorable egg garland this weekend to hang above our piano.  I bought the supplies today, but not sure if I will attempt this one with the kids or after they are in bed.

Sunday:  We are going to make palm branches out of construction paper and wave them around singing Hosanna!

Monday:  Bake bread for neighbor , make Handprint Easter lily bouquets

Tuesday:  Easter picture tree, and do an Easter egg lunch hunt

Wednesday:  Easter scavenger hunt, make cross shaped Rice Krispy treats

Thursday: foot washing ceremony, also going to make jelly bean bracelets with the girls (I saw the bracelet idea on pinterest but when I went to link to it, the site where it was linked to no longer exists, so here’s the picture.  I assume a needle, thread and jelly beans is all that is needed).

Friday:  GOOD FRIDAY:  For breakfast we are going to have hot crossed buns.  I’ve never made them before but they seemed appropriate for Good Friday.   The recipe calls for raisins which I don’t care for and after an informal face book poll, it seems ok for me to make them without raisins as long as they are hot and crossed.  

I would also like to have each of us write down a sin we’ve done this week and nail it to a cross, as well as do the white carnation in red dyed water activity (both found here).   In the evening, we will also attend our church’s Good Friday service.  It is my most favorite church service of the year.

Saturday:  We are going to invite the grandparents over to dye Easter eggs.  I was also thinking about re-watching the Passion of the Christ after the kids go to bed.

Sunday:  We will go to church Easter morning.  Afterwards we are going to have both sets of grandparents over for Easter dinner. I’m going to have the kids make these resurrection rolls for our dinner.  We are going to have carrot cup cakes for dessert with those trick candles that keep relighting.  We will also do an egg hunt in the backyard.  That night we’ll have a family movie night and watch this animated movie about the life of Christ. 

Without a doubt, my favorite Children’s Story Bible is the Jesus Storybook Bible and I do plan to read the Easter story to them from it on Easter weekend as well.   I’ve also pulled out my copy of No Wonder They Call Him the Savior by Max Lucado to read personally this week. 

I gotta confess I set out on the first day of Lent to read the Holy Week account during Lent, and I got off track somewhere during week 1 and haven’t kept up.   I hope I do a better job this week of staying on track.  I can’t wait to worship our Lord on Easter morning and I think my worship will be much more heartfelt if I spend the week reflecting on my sin, and on His sacrifice for me. 

Happy Easter everyone!

Since it was the first day of spring this week, I decided it might be time to take down the Valentine’s wreath from my door and switch it for my Easter one.  Today I thought I’d take it a step further and even pull out my spring/Easter/”leave up till I pull out the red/white/blue decorations for summer around Memorial day” decorations…as I did the girls were ooing and aahing over the little eggs, flowers, chicks and lambs…Then my 6 year old daughter saw the bunny my mother in law had given me a few years ago and said, “Awh look at the bunny and it’s even holding a football.”

Yes, that’s right… a football, not an Easter egg was the first thing to come to her mind when she saw this bunny.  Because at our house, football knows no season…it’s a year round obsession and truly, nothing says Easter like a bunny holding a football.

When you start the day with a bowl of our traditional St Patty’s day breakfast of Lucky Charms, you know it’s going to be a good day.

And today was just that.

I was so excited to have St Patrick’s Day fall on a Saturday this year.  After our magically delicious breakfast, Scott took the big 3 to my son’s baseball practice.  I stayed home to make our lunch (shamrock shaped soft pretzels) while our youngest took a morning cat nap. 

Then, Scott texted me this picture.

Can you believe it?  I’ve never found a four leaf clover and Scott helped the girls find one on St Patrick’s Day no less!! Luck of the Irish, perhaps?

When they got home from practice, lunch was ready.  And, I gotta tell you, I was pretty excited with how it turned out.  I’ve tried my hand at shamrock shaped soft pretzels more than once.  I’ve used pillsbury bread sticks, I’ve used the Auntie Anne home kit… and to be honest I can sometimes get one to kinda sort resemble a shamrock.  But, this time, I was actually able to make 6 pretzels that tasted delicious AND all resembled a shamrock. 

You better believe I’ll be using this recipe again! We topped them off with mint chocolate chip milkshakes for a deliciously green inspired lunch!

. 

In the afternoon, we met some friends in  Stars Hallow  Easton, MD for their St Patrick’s Day parade.

It’s my second time visiting Easton and it did not disappoint.  I loved the town, I loved the 3 school bands that performed, the decorated golf carts, the gaudy green attire lining the streets.  I found myself grinning from ear to ear the entire time and seriously contemplating a visit to the local real estate office.  It was that charming (or I am that much of a sap for small town parades).

The weather was gorgeous.   The afternoon was relaxing (more so for some of us).

Seems the kids wanted a turn in the parade and Scott was happy to oblige (as long as their parade route went down hill).

But, then he requested a ride of his own.

I came home smiling having enjoyed a festive day of family fun with my family.

I had high hopes for Feb with plans in the works for Mardi Gras and Leap Year celebrations, but the stomach bug and a business trip and well the busyness of life, put those on the back burner… perhaps another next time…

March is full of celebrations of its own, so no time to mourn the missed holidays of February… We started off with Dr Seuss’ Birthday on March 2.  We had green eggs and ham bacon for dinner, and Cat in the Hat treats for dessert.  Simple and fun, perfect for a Friday after a long week. 

Always trying to follow in the steps of his siblings…

March 14th was Pi Day (3/14) 

We celebrated with taco pie for dinner and toll house pie for dessert.

I can’t wait for St Patrick’s Day tomorrow.  I am so excited that it falls on a Sat this year and Scott can participate in all the fun with us. 

Can I make a little confession?  I was going to skip Presidents Day… truthfully, it’s a holiday that I’ve only really given a nod to in the past, no real hoopla.  And this year it falls right before Fat Tuesday and the end of Mardi Gras… Mardi Gras is another holiday I’ve skipped in the past but for some reason this year I decided to educate the kids on New Orleans food and culture as well as jazz music… (I think it’s b/c of these Family Fun magazine recipes)…

Anyway, I was all set to celebrate Mardi Gras on Presidents Day this year b/c we are off school on Presidents Day and Tuesdays are crazy busy with school at home, piano lessons, and gymnastics…

But, then my son mentioned to me yesterday (after we had already left Aldi’s mind you)  “Mom, didn’t you say you were going to make cherry pie for Presidents Day?”    oh right…. I did…. IF ONLY HE HAD MENTIONED THAT AN HOUR EARLIER WHEN WE WERE AT THE STORE….

so… I shuffled around my Mardi Gras plans… and brought the presidents back to Presidents Day…. thanks to 1. Pinterest I found a cute craft  2. this year’s Halloween Costume we even had General Washington make an appearance… and 3. 2 additional trips to the store (b/c when I went back to Aldi’s on Monday they were out of pie crust)…. we had ourselves a President’s Day celebration….

(FYI the picture I saw on Pinterest used cotton balls for George’s hair but we were out, so we used toilet paper instead and I actually like the end result better)

Look who I caught later trying to sneak himself another piece of pie….

I love holidays… all holidays… as in Chinese New Year… Ground Hog Day… Mardi Gras…St Patty’s Day… Cinco De Mayo… give me a reason to make a themed meal and I’m in.  I love celebrating life with my family.

So, yes… I go a little crazy for Valentine’s Day… even if it is a holiday created by Hallmark…. I’ll still serve heart shaped food for every meal and dress my kids in red.

Scott and I went out last night.  He surprised me with flowers and a card and we went out for dinner and a movie, with Ben and Jerry’s when we got home.  It was a delightful evening.  I realized as I was getting ready last night that it was the 15th Valentine’s Day we’ve celebrated.  I still vividly remember our first… when he held my hand for the very first time. 

Today we had heart shaped donuts for breakfast… heart shaped pizza for lunch, heart shaped sandwiches for dinner and heart shaped lollipops for dessert.   We passed out Valentine’s at gymnastics and we all wore red.   It was a fun day!

I love these kids and this picture just makes me smile… more than if it was a perfectly posted one.

And I could just eat these two up… I think the candid shots might be my favorites..

Can he just be Momma’s boy forever?

My heart is so full this Valentine’s Day… with love for my husband… who makes me feel loved and adored every day of the year…and love for each of my children…I can think of nothing sweeter than being his wife and their Momma.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

When I saw the sign on the side of highway advertising a Live Nativity, I was instantly interested.  I’ve never seen one and thought it would be a great experience for the kids.  When talking to a friend I found out more details and made plans to bring them.  It was a simple production, put on by a small community church on a cold winter’s night on the side of a busy highway.   Not many were in attendance.  It reminded me a lot of that night in Bethlehem.  Few stopped then either. 

^{Luke 2: 1-14:}

¹ In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

After watching the live nativity, we were invited in for hot cocoa, popcorn and cookies.  Things were wrapping up, I figured we’d be on our way, and then they were calling the cast out to do the next performance.  My kids jumped up, eager to hear it again.  Scott and I looked at each other, smiled, and followed them back out in the cold. 

We decorated our gingerbread house this weekend…before Christmas this year—astonishing, I know.

The big 3 had a fabulous time.

Unfortunately, our youngest found the experience quite confusing and a tad frustrating.  “Why, oh why, aren’t they letting me eat that candy?”

I might have snuck the lil guy a few pieces of candy while they were busy working.

The kids were quite proud of their work.  And I have to agree.. it is most definitely the best looking one they’ve ever done. 

Of course the competitive and ahem, humble, little circus crew they are, they declared that “our house is so good, if we entered it in a competition it would surely win.”     Yea… we’ll spend some time working on humility over the holiday season.